Three Seminoles legends, forged under Bobby Bowden, fueled Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rise to Super Bowl glory. Discover their impact.
As the 2026 NFL draft opens Thursday in Pittsburgh, hundreds of players will wait for the call that changes everything. For some, it will be the start of a long career. For a select few, it becomes the beginning of a legacy.
Florida State knows that path well.
For decades, the Seminoles were one of college football's most reliable pipelines to the NFL, especially during the Bobby Bowden era, when talent flowed through Tallahassee and into pro locker rooms every spring. Few franchises benefited more than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Three former Seminoles -- Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn and Dexter Jackson -- became key pieces in the rise of a franchise that eventually reached the top of the sport. Years later, Jameis Winston added another chapter to the connection.
Derrick Brooks, Linebacker
Brooks arrived at Florida State in 1991 as a safety. He left as one of the best linebackers in school history.
After moving to linebacker, Brooks quickly became the centerpiece of the Seminoles' defense. In 1993, he helped lead Florida State to a 12-1 record and the program's first national championship. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned consensus All-America honors, then followed with another All-America season in 1994.
The Buccaneers selected Brooks in the first round of the 1995 draft, and he became the face of their defense for more than a decade.
Brooks played all 14 NFL seasons in Tampa Bay, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections, five first-team All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl ring for the 2002 season. He later entered both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.
Warrick Dunn, Running Back
Bowden went into LSU country to land Dunn out of Baton Rouge, and the decision paid off immediately.
Dunn became one of the most dynamic running backs in Florida State history, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons. He finished with 3,959 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns, 132 receptions and 12 receiving scores, giving NFL teams a complete offensive weapon.
Tampa Bay selected Dunn with the 12th pick in the 1997 draft, pairing him again with Brooks.
He made an immediate impact, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Dunn spent five seasons with the Buccaneers before leaving in free agency after the 2001 season. Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl the following year.
His career extended 12 seasons, producing 10,967 rushing yards, three Pro Bowl appearances and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Dexter Jackson, Safety
Jackson was another Florida State defender who translated smoothly to the NFL.
A two-time All-ACC selection, he built a reputation for range, toughness and playmaking ability during his Seminole career. Tampa Bay selected him in the fourth round of the 1999 draft.
Three seasons later, he delivered one of the biggest performances in franchise history.
Jackson intercepted two first-half passes against the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, helping power the Buccaneers to a 48-21 victory. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Jackson played 11 NFL seasons and wrapped up his career with 17 interceptions.
Jameis Winston, Quarterback
The Florida State-Tampa Bay connection continued in a different era with Winston.
Recruited by Jimbo Fisher after Bowden's retirement, Winston delivered one of the best freshman seasons in college football history in 2013. He threw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy and led Florida State to a 14-0 record and national championship.
His game-winning touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin in the closing seconds against Auburn remains one of the defining moments in program history.
The Buccaneers selected Winston No. 1 overall in the 2015 draft. He later led the NFL in passing yards in 2019 with 5,109.
After 2019, Winston played for the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns. In 2025, he signed with the New York Giants.
A Lasting Link
College programs and NFL teams often cross paths in the draft. Few pairings, though, have been as consistent as Florida State and Tampa Bay.
From Brooks anchoring a championship defense, to Dunn electrifying the offense, to Jackson sealing a Super Bowl title, the Seminoles helped shape some of the best years in Buccaneers history. Winston ensured the connection reached a new generation.
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